Article Flag: Mandatory Vaccination Please Note: As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required. Summary:
Within the context of a patient, client and family centred model of care and, in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Providence Health Care, the person promotes a safe, respectful, and civil working environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to the Patient Care Manager, Road to Recovery (R2R), the Peer Support Program Coordinator coordinates the day-to-day operations of the R2R peer support program. The Peer Support Program Coordinator is a person who self-identifies as a Peer, meaning a person with lived/living experience relevant to the client group served, such as structural inequity, interpersonal trauma, racism, trauma, substance use, poverty, sex work, and/or physical or mental health challenges. This role works as an embedded team member in the Urban Health Program and works alongside the AMCT Peers to provide Peer support from lived experience, coordinates, and facilitates access to the Peer Support Program for patients and families receiving services at Providence Health Care, specifically R2R. This position acts as a resource for both patients and healthcare providers by providing emotional support and patient advocacy, and promoting health provider relationships that are trauma informed, free of anti-Indigenous racism, and person centered.

The Peer Coordinator participates in development and implementation of program services and promotes meaningful engagement with Peers for ongoing work in strategic planning and harm reduction, redevelopment. Supervises Peer Support workers, coordinates and co-facilitates Peer orientation and ongoing training, identifies opportunities for skill enhancement, and provides Peer-based mentoring, leadership skills development and support to PHC Peers. Promotes a safe, healthy environment that instills a sense of dignity and self-respect for all peer workers. Performs duties such as supporting adherence to organizational policies and procedures, confidentiality requirements, supporting safety initiatives and creating statistical reports and other administrative tasks required by the program. Qualifications / Skills and Education:
Education

• A level of education and experience equivalent to a recognized Certificate in Social Services or as an Addiction Service Worker plus two (2) years recent, related experience. Lived or living experience relevant to the client group served, such as structural inequity, interpersonal trauma, racism, trauma, substance use, poverty, sex work, and/or physical or mental health challenges. Completion of a recognized Peer Support Training program.
• Peer support experience in substance use, mental health, homelessness and/or health services navigation, cultural safety and practices in Indigenous community services, and/or related work in a health care environment or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles of peer support practice and ability to apply principles of recovery in mental illness/substance.
• Knowledge of harm reduction principles and practices.
• Knowledge of the principles of cultural safety and humility.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Ability to supervise.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
  

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides day-to-day coordination and facilitation of Peer Support Workers and provides patient support and advocacy from knowledge and lived/living experience to patients and families across Urban Health services. Liaises with existing Peers and/or Volunteers already working across PHC sites (e.g., acute care, residential services, mental health) and outpatient clinics (i.e., John Ruedy Clinic and the Rapid Access Addiction Clinic) at Providence Health Care.

• Acts as a content expert, advocate, and provides leadership to peer support workers across PHCs programs by coaching, guiding and mentoring.

• Works as an embedded team member in the R2R Program and helps facilitate patient and family access to community health programs, cultural supports, and harm reduction services.

• Supervises Peer Support Workers and other designated staff by scheduling and organizing work assignments, providing work direction, troubleshooting issues, providing input into employee evaluations, participating in the hiring and selection of staff, approving vacation and other leaves and maintaining standards and procedures.

• Identifies, orients, supports and provides training opportunities for Peers; identifies opportunities for, and responds to, requests for Peer involvement in PHC initiatives. This includes scheduling of Peer Worker involvement in any working groups or committee activities, and providing Peer feedback, addressing any concerns, with Manager support, as needed and as required.

• Ensures compliance with Peer Engagement Principles and Best Practices Guidelines for organizational policies relevant to Peers; interprets policies and advises on any potential changes to policies for quality improvement and service delivery. Formulates new Peer resources in consultation with the Manager and support of other Urban Health department staff.
• Participates in the evaluation process by ensuring distribution and collection of evaluation forms, summarizes information; obtains feedback and suggestions compiles and distributes reports and required data utilizing word processing, email, spreadsheet and PowerPoint.
• Acts as a resource for both patients and health care providers by providing emotional support and advocacy, and supporting referrals to ensure health provider relationships are trauma informed, person and family centered, and embedding principles of cultural safety and humility in the delivery of care services.
• Attends regularly scheduled R2R meetings and provides informal updates to the team on the Peer Support Program.
• Performs administrative duties such as maintaining peer contract information, preparing statistical reports or summaries, liaising with various internal departments and/or community organizations to gather/relay information.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.